In-laws held for torture

The in-laws of an eight-months pregnant Bally homemaker were arrested on Saturday for allegedly torturing her and making her undergo prenatal sex determination test and abortion.

Ranjana Prasad’s husband Rabindra, a scrap iron dealer, lodged a complaint against his family members on her behalf.

The arrested were identified as Govinda Prasad, his wife Savitri and their younger son Ramjatan.

According to police, Ranjana, 30, was beaten up by her in-laws on Thursday, when Rabindra, 31, was not at home. Ranjana became unconscious after brother-in-law Ramjatan had allegedly kicked her in the tummy. She was admitted to TL Jaiswal Hospital in Bally.

On Friday, Rabindra lodged the complaint with Bally police station.

“My in-laws have been torturing me since I gave birth to a girl in 2009. They wanted a boy. My husband was against this so when he was out of town on tour, they forcibly made me undergo an abortion at a small clinic in Calcutta in June 2010,” Ranjana stated in her complaint.

Prenatal sex-determination is banned in the country.

Dowry killing

The parents of a 19-year-old girl who burned to death at her in-laws’ house on August 1 have lodged an FIR alleging that their daughter had been murdered after they failed to pay of dowry of Rs 20,000.

Nikhat Kousar’s parents have also alleged that son-in-law Sheikh Sadiq, who works in a catering firm in Dubai, has been threatening them over the phone to withdraw the complaint lodged with Taltala police station.

The FIR has named Nikhat’s brother-in-law and three sisters-in-law as accused. Brother-in-law Sheikh Sonu has been arrested, while the others are on the run. “A hunt is on for the trio,” said an officer. A preliminary report by NRS Medical College and Hospital, where Nikhat was declared dead on arrival, says the victim had been “doused in kerosene and set on fire”.

Nikhat got married to Sadiq on January 1. Sadiq left for Dubai a month later. “The in-laws started torturing my daughter soon after the wedding,” said mother Nasreen Begum. “They had been demanding Rs 20,000 for some time to buy furniture.” Nikhat’s father Sheikh Tahir, a rickshaw-puller, failed to raise the money.

Nikhat had last called up her mother on the evening of August 1, asking her to take her back.

“When I went to the Taltala house, Nikhat’s mother-in-law refused to let her come with me without Sadiq’s permission,” said Nasreen.

Hours later, around 10.05pm, one of the sisters-in-law informed Nikhat’s parents that their daughter had sustained burns while cooking.